Category: News || By Submitted Report

Thirty-four people, mainly from the Mon Valley, were indicted yesterday on charges of narcotics and gun trafficking after a year-long local, state and federal investigation.

The investigation was a response to the increased violence and incidence of drug trafficking in Homestead and vicinity, "much of which was attributed to a gang ... known as the 'Uptown Crew,'" said Gary Perdue, special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton announced that the charges were contained in six related indictments, returned by a federal grand jury on March 6.

The investigation included the FBI, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the state Attorney General's office, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Allegheny County police, and Munhall, Pittsburgh and West Homestead police.

Hickton called the prosecutions part of a federal "community impact prosecution strategy" aimed at eliminating violent criminals town-by-town and to "replace despair with hope."

Named in the first indictment are Brandon Thompson, 30, of West 11th Avenue, Homestead; Antonio Hardin, 32, of Foxboro Drive, Monroeville; James Walker, 44, of West 11th Avenue, Homestead; Joseph Thompson II, 25, of East 12th Avenue, Homestead; Richard Wood, 33, of Wayne Street, Swissvale; Gregory Harris Jr., 24, of West 13th Avenue, Homestead; Luther Harper, 27, of 14th Avenue, Homestead; and Edward Cook, 25, of Hays Street, Homestead.

Prosecutors charge that Brandon Thompson, Hardin, Walker, Joseph Thompson, Wood, Harris and Harper conspired to distribute and possess heroin. The indictment also charges Brandon Thompson, Hardin and Cook with firearms violations.

The second indictment accuses Troy Anderson, 24, of Comrie Avenue, Braddock; Mark Felder, 25, of Kennedy Avenue, Duquesne; and Dorianne Harris, 20, of Montier Street, Wilkinsburg, with possession of heroin with intent to deliver.

The third indictment accuses Andre Corbett, 20, of West 13th Avenue, Homestead; Sterling Marshall, 18, of East 7th Avenue, Munhall; Tireal Wheeler, 19, of East 14th Avenue, Homestead; and Jordan Murphy, 21, of East 17th Avenue, Homestead, with possession of heroin with intent to deliver.

The fourth indictment accuses Jay Germany, 22, of Rutherford Avenue, Pittsburgh's 19th Ward (Beechview); Brady Hall, 19, of Woodbine Street, Pittsburgh's 10th Ward (Lawrenceville); Jaquan Washington, 23, of Louis Street, Homestead; Hector Guadalupe Jr., 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Santino Drew, 34, of New Brunswick, N.J.; Thomas Martinez, 34, of Edison, N.J.; and Louis Spinnenweber Jr., 34, of Canonsburg, Washington County with possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and further charges that Germany, Hall and Washington hired teen-agers to help distribute drugs.

The fifth indictment accuses Bryce Harper, 26, of East 15th Avenue, Homestead; Diamantia Serrano, 19, of Duquesne Avenue, McKeesport; Lacie Harper, 24, of East 15th Avenue, Homestead; Ryan Harper, 36, of Martha Street, Munhall; Jamar Harper, 32, of West Street, Homestead; Ronnell Robinson, 19, of Commonwealth Avenue, Duquesne; and Seth Lindsey, 18, of South 3rd Street, Duquesne with possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and with using teen-agers to help distribute drugs.

The sixth indictment accuses Thomas Hopes, 21, of Pittsburgh's Hill District; Keith Harris, 22, of West 13th Avenue, Homestead; Anthony Smith, 21, of Sylvan Street, Homestead; Hakeem Kirby, 19, of West 15th Avenue, Homestead; William McDonald, 68, of West Eighth Avenue, Homestead; Ronnell Robinson, 19, of Commonwealth Avenue, Duquesne; Gregory Harris Jr., 24, of West 13th Avenue, Homestead; and Sterling Marshall, 18, of East 7th Avenue, Munhall, with possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and with using teen-agers to help distribute drugs.

Robinson, Keith and Gregory Harris, Marshall and Hopes are also charged with firearms violations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government, Hickton said.

(Editor's Note: From a press release provided by Margaret Philbin of the U.S. Attorney's Office.)

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